Belt buffing or scouring machine



Patented (H.311, 1922,

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L- G- FREEMAN.

BELT BUFFING 0R scoumwe MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE30, 1913. L4L34L834 IIIIIII I|L Wwaaw:

L. G. FREEMAN.

BELT BUFFING OR SCOURING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED my 30. 1913.

1,484,384., Patented 4m 31, 1922 4 SHEETSSHEEI 2.

' iiiw/ jawwajfi'w mar/2w,

L. G. FR EE MAN.

BELT BUFFING 0R SCOURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913.

lLALSLfiWL Patented Uta/K319119229 /J 6 :7 ETSHEEI3. ,1; f I A L. G. FREEMAN.

BELT BUFFING 0R SCOURING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED.JUNE30, 1913.

1 4134,33% Patented 001;. 31, 1922 4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Patented Gist, all, 1922, I

ILDUIS eraser/ran, or crnernn'arr, onto, assrenon re JLQUIS e. ranmaan AND cnannns r. FREEMAN, 'rnes'rnns, BOTH or ornornna rr, oraro.

BELT BUEFING R SCOUBING MACHINE.

Application filerl June 30, 1913. Serial No. 776,520.,

To all w/zomz't may concern: ,ture for said Working part, which can. be Be it known that l, LOUIS G. Funnemn, a easily and quickly adjusted or changed to citizen of the United States, and resident of: conform with the style, type or curve of 55 Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, State of Wo rkbeing operated'upon.

Ohio, have invented an Improvement n Belt it is a further important feature of my Buffing or Securing Machines, of which the present invention to provide means, prefert'ollowing description, in connection with ably em bodled as a Working fixture, or a sethe accompanying drawings. is a specificaries of interchangeable working fixtures, or 60 tion, like letters on the drawings representa fixture having capacity for adjustment, so

m lik parts as to confrom theworking portion of' the This invention relates to bufiing, scouring abrading or bufiing 'beltto fit exactly the or polishing machines intended for use on curve or are of the heel breast of a particuboots and shoes, and particularly to a malar type of shoe. My invention, therefore, 65 chine employing a continuously Operating contemplates means to have the working abrading belt and specially adapted "to opsurface of my fixture fit the arc ofany heel crate upon the heel breast or inner curved breasting knife with substantially the same portion of a heel or similar work. .shape or curve. Still another important and In the manufacture of boots and shoes, it essential feature of the invention isthat the it is customary to operate upon the bottom and fixture carrying the abrading medium may go edge portions of the sole and heel with an be tapered or narrowed at any desired point, abrading'or butting device, to clean or scour such, for example, as at the outer supportthe leather and to properly smooth and fining end, so as to provide suitable clearance ish the outer surface thereof. This operafor the shank of the shoe and yet Will support 75 tionhas ordinarily been; performed on the extreme outer edge of the abrasive belt,

bottom of the sole and teenas well as on the and thereby cause the scouring or bufling of outer edge of the sole and heel, but difliculty the heel breast right up and into the joint of has been experienced in scouring, buffing or the heel and sole. finishing the heel breast as Well as the shank Another object of the invention is to ro- .80 portion of the sole adjacent thereto because vide a machine utilizing a bufiing & elt,

of the usual concave formation of this inner wherein a belt tightening means is utilized, edge of the heel. A. diiiiculty in devising a "which will enable the abrading belt to be machine for the bufling, scouring or finishformed of relatively thin and. inexpensive ingioperation just explained, has been in the material, and yet will drive said belt under Wide variety of forms of curve in which-the a very considerable tightening strain, With-' 35 heel breast is usually cut. out danger of breaking the belt. Ehe ma- The object of my present invention is to chime embodying my presentinvention, also, obviate the difficulties above noted, and to is so arranged that the butting belts are led provide a machine which will be peculiarly to and away from the Working fixture at apand specially adapted to scour, buff, polish propriate angles to provide ample clearance 40 or finish the heel breast, irrespective of the Within the line of travel of the endless belts curve presented by this inner edge of the to permit the fore-part of theshoe to-be maheel, and to perform this operation Without nipulated therein While the heel breast is Y the necessity of manipulation of the shoe by being operated upon. the operator, or at least with a minimum of While I have described my invention as 45 such hand work. both as to time and charintended primarily for carrying an abrading acter. A still further object of the invenor scouring belt, it will of course be untion isto provide a machine having a great derstood that a polishing or finishing belt adaptability to operate on differently formed can be utilized in place of the abrading belt curves of heel breasts by having means to for polishing the heel breast in the same to quickly, rapidly, and effectively adjust the manner as the abrading belt operates for Working part of the machine to fit such scouring and bufiing. curves. Preferably I employ a suitable fix- Further objects of the invention, details of construction and novel combinations of parts will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the lnvention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a side view of an abradin r machine, showing the double belts, an form of belt 'tightener, and a means for determining the operative curve over which the abrading belt runs;

Fig. 2 is a top' plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1;.'

F i 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the spin les in the adjustable curved member in the same position as illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a modified form of my invention, wherein a spider, carrying a plurality of fixtures of different diameters to vary the working curve of the belts, is shown; Fig. is a view of still another form;

Figs. 8 and 7 show a further modified form of the means'to present a working surface over which the belts are drawn;

Figs. 8 and 9, Fi s. and 11, and Figs. 12 and .13 show stil other modified forms ofadjustment for the-curved surface over which, the belt may be led.

Figs. 14 and show a fixture with an adjustable gage so that bufiing belts of dif-' ferent widths may be used; Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a fixture combiningthe roller and pneumatic antifriction device; while Figs.

'18 and 19 illustrate the combination of rollers and a plain plate; and v Figs. and 21 show a method whereby any fixture may be adapted to operate on rying standards 2 and 3, preferably formed integrally with said base at either end, and a brace 4 connecting the top portions of the standards 2 and 3, as shown. Formed at the junction of the standard 3 and brace 4 is a journal bearing 5, car ing a shaft 6 having a pulley 7 at one enhl and a grooved wheel 8 at the other. The pulley 7 is adapted to receive a belt from any suitable source of powerto actuate the shaft 6 and wheel 8. Arranged in the lower portion. of the standard 3' is a journal bearing 9 in which an idler 10 is mounted in the same vertical plane as the driving wheel 8. At the forward end of the machine, viz, at-the ri ht viewing Figs. 1 and 2, is arranged a soc et.

in the one 14 is provided with a loosely rotating sleeve 15 thereon, said sleeve being retained m place by the flaring outer head 16 of the spindles 14. The spindles 14 are each held in the respective socket provided thereforlate 13 by means of set. screws 17 as clear y shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The entire latel3 may also be rotated in the socket.

mem er 11 as desired, and a set screw 18 threaded through the socket 11 is provided to hold the late 1.3 in the desired adjusted position. e sleeves 15 are positioned in the same vertical plane. with the drivin wheel 8 and the idler 10 already described?- and the abrading belt is edover both idler and driving wheel, and over the series of sleeves 15 constituting the curved working I face against which the inner edge of the heel 19 of a shoe 20, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, may be presented by the operator for the scouring, bufing or finishing operation. A guide or sole rest for the shoe 20 is also preferably provided, being shown as a rest 21 secured to a shank 22 which ismount ed to slide in a socket 23 carried by the brace 4:", a thumb screw 25 being threaded through the socket 23 to hold the shank 22 and rest 21 in any desired position. This guide also enables the operator to use the same as a rest for the forepart of the shoe, enabling the shoe to be held at proper angle and scour the heel breast at practically a single" contact.

The construction thus far described constitutes an apparatus'on which an abrasive belt may be positioned and run, but I also arrange to use two belts, one 26, of leather, canvas, or thin metal, constitutin a' conveyor or backing member, and t e other 27, of emery aper, sandpaper, or the like, constituting the abrading working surface a ainst which the heel of the shoe is pressed.

e advanta e incident to utilizing two belts is consi erable, as a firm working sur-- face is presented as the belts erg run around the spindles 15, enabling the sandpa er to be firmly resented to the work an .thus

attaining t e reatest efiiciency during the.

presentation o the work to the sandpaper. Also the. conveyor belt 26Itakes the main driving strain, and therefore a hlgh speed proper tension, '1 provide a belt tightener 28, in the form of an idler Wheel mounted loosely in the end of an arm 2 pivoted at 30 to a portion of the frame suitabl formed to receive the same. Theweight o the arm 29 and wheel 28 may be of appropriate amount to exert the desired tenslon on the belts, but of course a spring'may be afiixed can be safely attained by my machine. In order to maintain the belts 26 and 27 under rat to increase said tension, if desired. flhe. idler 28 is so formed as to bearlts weight directly upon the carrying belt 26, and

thereby to put the tension of the belt tightening device upon'said carrying belt.

Referring to Fig. 4, a modified form is illustrated, wherein the apparatus is carried by a frame 31, having a driving Wheel 32, mounted at the rear of the frame and a 'ournal bearing 33 at the forward end, which caring carries a shaft 34 on which an arbor or spider 35 is secured. This arbor has a plurality of arms 36, 37, 38, and 39, of varying lengths, each arm carrying at its outer end loosely pivoted fixtures or wheels 40, 41, 42, and 43, respectively, of varying diameters. The carrying and abrading belts 44 and 45 are led around the driving wheel.

32, and three of the wheels carried by the arbor all of said wheels being in the same vertical plane with that of the driving pulley 32. Suitable means, as a set screw (not shown) to hold the shaft 34 in any position desired with a wheel, as, for example, 41, in working position, is also provided. enables a very quick adjustment, simply by means of rotating the arbor 35, to be made, in order to secure a. working surface at the extreme front or right of the machine viewing Fig. 4, which Wlll present a curve suited to the curve of the heel breast to be. operated upon, four such curves of different diameters being illustrated by the wheels carried by each of the four arms of the arbor 35. Preferably these arms on the arbor 35 and the wheels carried respectively thereby, are so proportioned, that the same strain is'presented to the belt during the partial rotation of the arbor and the adjusting of any one wheel in working position. Therefore the smallest Wheel'43 is mounted on the longest arm 38, while the wheel of largest diameter 41, is mounted on the shortest arm 3.6. I

I have also shown in this view a modified form of belt tightener, illustrating the same as an idler 46 pivotally mounted. at the outer end of an arm 47, which may be loosely se cured on the outer end of the shaft 48 carry- .ing the driving wheel 32. Preferably also the shaft 48 is mounted in a sliding journal box 49, and a thrust screw 50 bearing upon the journal box 49 serves to initially adjust and tighten the entire belts whenever desirable.

Fig. 5 illustratesa plate 51 secured to a shank 52, and presenting a curved working face 53 to fit a heel breast having the ogee curve, such a 'plate being adapted to be fitted into the socket member 11 of the machine shown in Fig. 1. In some styles of shoes the heel breast is in the form of an ogee curve, and heretofore it has. been peculiarly difiicult to buff the same, but by means of my machine any desired or special working fixture over which the 'abrading belt is run, may be utilized, "the form shown in The arrangement just described,

Fig. 5 constituting an example illustrating the wide adaptability of the adjustable feature of my machine.

Figs. 6 and 7 show another form of work member which may be fitted into the socket 11 of the machine shown in Fig. 1, having a shank 54 carrying a hollow member 55 over which the carrying and abrading belts are drawn, the face 56 being in the form of any curve desired. In order to reduce the friction on this type of device I preferably equip the face 56 of the member with a plurality of holes as shown at 57 and 58, and may also supply compressed air through a suitable conduit 59, which air will be forced outwardly through the holes 57 and 58, and

thus still further reduce the friction of the belts in their running or sliding across the curved surface 56, thereby forming a thin film of air over which the belts glide. This pneumatic feature is of particular importance, admitting a high speed.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a further modification of work member over which the belt may be drawn, which member is provided with a plurality of different curved surfaces, and which, therefore, may be readily adjusted to present any desired curve as the working surface of the abrading device. This member is also equipped with a shank 65 to be fitted into the socket member 11 of the machine shown in Fig. 1, said shank carrying a bearing portion 66, having a plurality of differently curved parts of its periphery, as illustrated at 67, 68, 69, and 70, either of said peripheral parts being adapted to hold the abrasive belt at a desired working curve to fit the concavity of the particular work in hand.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a still further modified form, wherein a single member is formed in a flexible manner, together with means to adjust said flexible member in any desired curved form. The modification herein shown is also adapted to be fitted to the machine shown in Fig. 1, having a shank 71 to be secured in the socket member 11 there shown. This socket member is formed with an upwardly projecting stud. 72, on which is threaded a nut 73. Two arms 74 and 75 are provided with their inner ends bored to fit. over the stud 72 and are clamped in any relative radial (position desired by tightening the nut 73' threaded on the top of the stud 72. To the outer ends of the manner, the ends of a flexible metallic strip 76, bein here shown as clinched about lugs 77 and 8 formed on the ends of the arms 7 4 and 75, respectively. This metallic strip 76 is of sufiicient strength and thickness as wellas of pliability, to maintain its curvedv form when the arms 74 and 75 are swung rotatively and fixed in a desired position, thus varying the convexity presented by the outer surface ofthe strip 76. To the strip 76 are secured a plurality of spindles 79 in any suitable manner, as by riveting, welding, or thelike, said spindles being similar to those already described as 16, and best shown in Fig. 3. On the outer ends of these spindles 79 are mounted a plurality of rollers or sleeves 80, over which the belts are led, thus constitutin anti-friction members for the curved worklng surface of the belts.

Still other modifications of work fixtures are illustrated Figs. 14 to 21, which will be readily understood-from the drawings. Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a plain type of fixture plate 81 carried by 'a shank 82 by suitable bolts 83, passing through a flange 84. -Applied to the fixture here shown, I have illustrated a convenient form of gage 85 with its vertical portion slotted to fit over a set screw or the like, 86, and with a horizontal'flange 87 having its inner contour in a similar curve or are to the plate 81'.

Loosening the bolt 86 permits the gage 85 to be moved in or out and enables bufiing or abrading belts of different widths to be used onthe fixture, while at all times maintaining the outer edge of the belt on a line with the outer part of the fixture itself, to thereby facilitate the operation of the machine upon the extreme bottom of the heel or at the joint between the heel and sole. It will be readily understood that a corresponding gage, similar to that illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 may be applied to any one of the several fixtures herein shown, but for the sake of clearness in the drawings, 1 have only illustrated same in these two figures.

Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate a combination of roller and pneumatic fixture comprising a shank 88, and a pneumatic plate 89 formed hollow and with a plurality of holes 90 in the working surface, through which air may be supplied by a passage 91 in the shank 88 from any suitable source of air pressure. In addition to the pneumatic, anti-friction means, I provide rollers 92 and 93, shown at either end of the late.

Figs. 18 and 19 i1 ustrate a combination of rollers and plate, this fixture comprising the shank 94 for attachment to the machine, the plate 95 and a plurality of rollers 96 secured in position by suitable screws 97, or in any other convenient manner.

Figs. 20 and 21 show a type of fixture especially adapted for my machine when the sameis operating upon heels having a pronounced acute angle at the junction of the sole and heel breast, as for example in shoes with the socalled Louis heels, to enable the belt to operate upon the entire heightand extent of the heel, and yet to provide proper clearance in the fixture itself so that the fixture will not interfere, scar, or contact with the sole or shank of the shoe. This fixture comprises. a shank 98, and as herein shown, is intended tobe of the multiple roller type, carrying a plurality of antifriction rollers 99 arranged in any desirable curve. The shank 1 is provided with a forwardly extending flange 100 to which-is secured a plate 101 by means of a plurality of bolts 102. The portion in Fig. 20 which is broken away is on the line 20 -2O of Fig. 21. Each roll 92 is turned downat either end, or fitted with an axle 103, one axle enteringacorresponding socket in the plate 101, and the other or outer axle fitting in a corresponding socket in a plate 104 which plate has the outer portion formed at an acute angle with. the working surface of the fixture, i. e., with the curved contour on which the scouring or bufling belt passes around the fixture. The plate 104 is attached to parts 1050f the shank 98 by means of screws 106, as illustrated in Fig. 21. This particular construction enables the abrading belt to run over the surface of the anti-friction rollers 99 with a small strip of the belt overlapping the front edge of the plate 104 which is correspondingly curved. and which provides a suitable backing, so that the extreme upper part of the heel breast may be acted upon. An adjustable gage, such as that illustrated at 85 in connection with Figs. 14 and 15, may also be applied to the fixture shown in Figs. 20 and 21 with equal facility.

Having described my invention, what .I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A machine for operating upon the curved heel breasts of boots and shoes, comprising an endless abrading belt, a carrier belt, a Working fixture over which both said belts are led and constituting a backing for the work engaging portions of said abrading belt, said fixture having a convex outer surface over which said belts are led, which surface is substantially in the same are as the heel breasting knife used to form the concave contour ofthe heel breast of the shoe being operated upon, means to rotate said belts, guide pulleys to lead said belts eeeeee 4 l 53 Work engaging are presented by the fixture In testimony whereof, I have signedl my to the belt, and means adjustable towmzfi. name to this specification, in the presence 10 and ram tlf ehplage gessiggl tgrolli h the of two suloscribingwitnesses.

outer e ge 0 t e e re in 'etoi' imitin the movement of the foi epert of the shag LOUIS E within'the angle formed by the runs of belt Witnesses:

leading to and. from the engulerly adjust- GHARLES HOFFMAN,

able fixture. I v Homm: P. BOWLING. 

